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Pro-EU MP Nick Boles quits local Tory party

Pro-EU MP Nick Boles quits local Tory party

The pro-EU MP Nick Boles has resigned from his local Conservative party saying a "division has opened up" between him and his members over Brexit.

In a letter to members of the Grantham and Stamford Conservative Association, Mr Boles said he was "not willing to do what would be necessary to restore a reasonable working relationship with a group of people whose values and views are so much at odds with my own".

He will continue to sit as the Conservative MP for the constituency, but his association will be free to choose another candidate for the next general election.

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The Lincolnshire MP has been involved in efforts to delay Brexit and avoid leaving without a deal – putting him at odds with some in his constituency.

Writing to local members, Mr Boles says "many (members) are convinced that the government should take the UK out of the European Union without a deal.

"While I have consistently argued that Brexit must be delivered… I am certain that crashing out of the EU without a deal would do great harm to the British people."

In a statement, Cllr Martin Hill, Vice President of the Grantham & Stamford Conservative Association, said: "Our Association AGM will be on March 28th where we can begin the process of selecting a new candidate to represent us at the next election or earlier if Mr Boles takes the honourable course and resigns his seat.

"This is very disappointing for us all as once again we have been betrayed by our parliamentary representative but I am confident that we will continue to work together to support the Conservative cause in this part of Lincolnshire."